Apparatus for forming pipe-molds



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. K. GUNN'. APPARATUS FOR FORMING PIPE oms.

No. 601,512. Patented Mar. 29, 1898.

Inventr.

Witnesses.

. Attorney.

ZZV/QAX- (No Model.)

I 3 Sheets-Shee't 2. J. K. GUNN.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING PIPE MOLDS;

Patented Mar; 29, 1898.

/% INVEN-TORA ATTORNEY- (NovModeL) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

J. GUNN.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING PIPE MOLDS.

No. 01,512. Patented M3 129, 1898.

llllllll ll Ellllllll f //V WY %%Q%iil i gay/4W ATTORNEY- NITE 'TATESJOHN K. GUNN, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING PlP E-MOLDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,512, dated March29, 189

Application filed March 6, 1897.

To zrZZ whom it may concern.-

Be'it known that I, JOHN K. GUNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for FormingPipe-Molds; and I do hereby declare that the following, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention.

' My invention relates to new and improved pipe-molding apparatus forforming pipemolds in the stationary flasks, whereby without tamping thesand is well and uniformly packed in the mold and the surface issmoothly finished, thus preventing bulges and irregularities in theexterior of the pipe and giving to it a smooth surface.

. My apparatus is comparatively simple and cheap to construct and easyand quick in operation. Its'essential features are a rotating packerhaving an irregular surface and a non-rotating follower or finisherattached to a shaft, whereby simultaneously the packer and finisher areelevated and the packer rotated. The finisher has a regular surface andperforms the double function of a guide for the packer and of finishingand smoothing the interior of the mold after the sand has been packed.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which the same numerals of reference indicate the sameparts in all the views.

Figure I is a front elevation of the appara tus, showing the doubleflask in section. Fig. II is a corresponding side View showing also thetop of the turn-table in sections. Fig. III is an enlarged View of thelower end of the double flask, showing one packer and one finisher inelevation, the others in vertical section. Fig. 1V is an enlargedelevation of the packer detached. Fig.Vis a horizontal crosssectionthereof. Fig.VI is a horizontal crosssection on line VI VI of Fig. I,the teeth of the gear being indicated. Fig. VII is a vertical section online VII VIIof Fig. VI. Fig. VIII is a vertical section substantially atright angles to the preceding on line VIII VIII of Fig. VI. Fig. IX is ahorizontal cross-section on line IX IX of Fig. I. Figs. X and XI arerespectively rear and side views of the bracket Serial No. 626,202. (Nomodel.)

for carrying the links which sustain the rtating gears. Figs. XII andXIII are respectively a side elevation and plan of one of said links.Fig. XIV illustrates a modification in the form of the packer.

In Figs. I and II are shown the usual pits in which flasks 1 1 aresustained, single or double, as here shown, on ramming-seats 2 2,secured onturn-table 3. These flasks are of various sizes for themolding of various sizes of pipe and are commonly divided longitudinal1y into halves connected by hinges, (shown in Fig. 1,) so that they maybe easily opened and the cast pipe dropped out.

4 is the main shaft for sustaining and opw crating the packer or former5 and the finisher, follower, or guide 6, the essential features of myinvention. This shaft is preferably tubular to give strength, stiffness,and lightness. The packer is formed with camshaped projections, one ormore, as may be desirable, so that its greatest diameter is greater thanthe diameter of the shaft.

I have shown a desirable form of packer provided with severalprojections spirally arranged, having the narrow circumferentialsurfaces 9 9, to which lead on one side the gradually-curved surfaces 8.8, and on the other side abrupt curves 1O 10, as best shown in Figs. IVand V. ing greater than that of the shaft, it is preferably beveled atits upper end 11 to avoid an abrupt shoulder. 'It may be connected toshaft by any desirable means asby internal thread 12, and to its lowerend'is attached, as by thread 13, the extension-rod 14, on which issustained to turn freely the finisher 6, held in place by nut 15. Thisfinisher must be at least equal in diameter to the largest diameter ofthe packer; but I prefer to make it slightly larger, in which case itsupper end may be beveled or the lower end of packer made with a regularcircumferential surface 16 equal in diameter to finisher.

Vithin the opening 17 of the ramming-seat, through which drops thefinisher, is inserted from below the ring 18, held in place by lugs 19,which ring, projecting upwardly into the mold, forms it for casting thebead on the end of the pipe. As shown in Fig. II, the form 20 for thehead of the pipe, through which the shaft extends and operates, issustained dle is drawn up and down.

of the ring 18.

Operative mechanism. Any desirable mechanism may be used to rotate andelevate the packer and finisher; but the special apparatus that I haveinvented and here shown is simple and effective. To the front of theI-beams 30 30, supported on the edge of the pit, are secured brackets 3131, carrying the guides or guide-rods 32 32. To the back of the I-beamsis journaled the cross-shaft 33, carrying on one end the mainpower-wheel34 and on the other the pinion 35. Near the middle of cross-shaft 33 iskeyed the bevelgear 36, meshing with gear 37 on the lower end of theback shaft 38, sustained in bearings 39 39. To the upper end of the backshaft is keyed the gear 40, meshing with gear 41, keyed to upper'end offront shaft 42, sustained in bearing 43 at its upper end and in acorresponding bearing at its lower end.

The rotation of shafts 4 4 and packers 5 5 is effected throughintermediate mechanism sustained on frame or saddle 44, by means of agear 45, sliding on shaft 42, but connected thereto by means of feather57 on shaft or gear and corresponding spline, so that it will rotatetherewith.

Elevating mecham'sm.-'lhe saddle 44, gear 45, and all the intermediatemechanism sustained on the saddle, together with shafts 4 4, packers,and finishers, are elevated by the following means: To'eyebolts 46 46 onthe saddle are connected ropes, chains, or bands 47 47, passing up overpulleys 48 48 and 49 and down to drum 50, journaled in brackets 51 51 onthe back of the I-beams 30, on one end of which drum is a gear 52. Onthe corresponding end of cross-shaft 33 is the pinion 35, arranged torotate on shaft by means of feather and spline, but having a little playthereon, so that it may be thrown into and out of engagement with gear52, as by lever 53. A clutch of desirable form, to one member of whichthe pinion may be connected, or other means for rotating the drum may besubstituted. Then this pinion is thrown into engagement with drum-gear52, the'druin is rotated, winding up the ropes, and the saddle iselevated on the guides, together with the other parts, including themain shafts and packers, while they are rotating. This elevation maybeeffected at any desirable rate of speed, which is regulated withreference to the speed of rotation of the packers by the comparativesize of the gears 35 and 52. The size of the other gears may of coursebe varied as desired.

Saddle and intermediate 'mec7zam'sm.The saddle 44 is provided withbearings 60, fitted to the guide-rods 32 32, 011 which the sad- To therear of surface of the shelf 64 of the saddle and are provided withcentral openings to receive the shanks 65 65 on the inside of the gears66 66 for holding said gears in position on the'ends 0f the links, sothat they maybe swung nearer together or farther apart, but constantlyin engagement with gear 45. In Fig. VI the shelf of the saddle isshownin dotted lines cut out at 67 67 to permit this swing.

To the front of the saddle and under the overhanging shelf is secured adetachable support 68, provided with double bearings 69 69 forsustaining the shafts 4 4, formed on their upper ends with heads havingshoulders 70 70 for engaging with bearings 69 69. It is evident thatsupports fitted to the saddle may be provided having a single bearingfor sustaining a single shaft and packer to be used when a single moldis to be formed instead of a double mold. The connection between theseshafts 4 4 and the gears 66 66 is made by means of the short shafts 7171, provided with heads 72 72. Keyways are formed in these short shafts,and in the interior of gears 66 and shafts 4 4 are fitted keys 73 73, bywhich means these rotating gears communicate their motion to the shafts4 4 and packers. This means of connection between gears and main shaftsmay be varied in many ways. For instance, the short shafts 71 71 may bemade square or angular and the gears and shaft-heads formed to fit.

lllodc of operaiioa-lt will be seen that by this arrangement the samemechanism for operating the packers and finishers may be used withvarious sizes of flasks and pipe-molds. When smaller pipes are to bemolded, the gears 66 66, sustained on the links, are swung nearertogether. When larger, farther apart, being always centered over theflasks. The size of pipe to be cast having been decided upon the flasks(here shown double) are set in position on the ramming-seat, carriedonthe turn-table in the pit, and swung into position under the apparatusherein described. The rings for forming the bead in the mold are set inposition in the lower ends of the flasks. When the pipe is molded headdown, the formers for the head of course take the place of these rings.The detachable support 68, carrying main shafts, packers, and finishers,is secured in position on the saddle,.and the packers are carefullycentered and lowered into the flask to the position shown in Figs. I andII, the finisher-guide 6 extending downwardly through opening 100 inturn-table 3. The

sand is then poured in and the operative mechanism set in motion, whichmay be done as soon as the sand covers the packer, by which means thepacker is rotated and the finisher simultaneously elevated, packing thesand firmly and uniformly and smoothly finishing the interior of themold throughout its whole length. I prefer to rotate the packer a fewtimes before throwing pinion 35 into engagement with gear 52 andbeginning the elevation, by which the sand at the bottom is well packed.The packer is preferably rotated in the direction indicated by thearrows in Figs. IV, V, and XIV. The head-form is not disengaged from itshook and set in the upper flaring end of the flask till the packerapproaches the upper end of the flask, in order to avoid danger ofclogging and of blocking flow of sand.

The packer and the finisher may each be as long as may be desired. Oneto two feet for each is a good size. The projections or ribs on thepacker may be as many as desirable, generally fewer for smaller molds,more for larger, and of any desirable form, though I much prefer thespiral arrangement of ribs .shown in Figs. IV and V.

The support 68 is detachable, it being necessary to sustain thedifferent sizes of shafts and packers, each in their own support 68, ofsuch size and form as to center the upper ends of the shafts under thegears 66 66, carried on the swinging links, to which gears the shaftsare connected by short shafts 71 71.

Relation to prior cm.I am not the first to propose the use of a rotatingformer or packer having a cam shape or irregular surface, and thereforeI do not claim this broadly; but what I have invented and do intend toclaim broadly as an essentially new device which overcomes certain gravedefects in old devices and is very useful and practically operative issuch a former or packer sustained on the end of the rotating shaft whichis connected at its other end to the operative mechanism without anybearings or means for sustaining the shaft and packer at any other pointand the combination of my rotating packer and non-rotating finisher andguide so sustained; also, the detailed construction and arrangement ofthe operative mechanism.

Many yearsago the forming of pipe-molds was suggested by means of ashortformer or packer having projections on its surface and secured to thelower end of a shaft by which it was rotated and elevated of the typeshown in the Smith patent, No. 83,668. All such were found to beimpractical and were not used for the general reason that the bearingsand other means which were necessarily provided to make the packer runtrue made it very inconvenient to change the packer and shaft to formmolds of different sizes. As different sizes of pipes must be cast oftenon the same day and at the same time, it is absolutely essential in allthese devices that packer and shaft may be quickly and conveniently'changed. Both the packer and supporting-shaft must be changed fordifferent sizes of molds, as a certain proportionmustbemaintainedbetweenthem. Theshaft must be enough smaller than thepacker to mold by the packer.

give sufficient sand room that is, to permita certain amount of sand tolie around the shaft to 'be compressed into a good firm If, however,there is too much sand room there will be too much sand to be packed andthe packer will work with difficulty and be clogged and not form a goodmold. Bearings for guiding the shaft and packer are objectionablebecause they are cut by the sand. The device of said Smith patent wouldbe open to these objections and to others that the packer on the end ofthe shaft would not run true, but would be forced from side to side asit moved. This supporting-frame would have to be excessively high toaccommodate the sliding carriage. In Smiths patent, No. 69,854, heshowed a device having said disadvantages, in which it was proposed toguide the packer and shaft by an internal shaft. This would probablyguide the packer well enough for larger sizes, but for smaller sizes theguidingshaft would be too small and would spring. Many years later theendeavor was made to overcome these objections by the useof heavyrotating packers of an entirely difierent type equal in length to themold, so that the whole mold was packed at once.: These required theobjectionable bearings, had to be adjusted with great care, did not givesufiioient sand room, were so heavy and. clumsy that they wereinconvenient to change, and required excessive power to operate. 17 Theywere expensive both to make and to operate.

My apparatus may be said to belong to the Smith'type, in which a shortspiral packer is sustained and operated on the end of a shaft, but isessentially different therefrom in its construction and mode ofoperation, by which it overcomes the old disadvantages- It is simple,quick, and convenient in changing sizes and adjustment for either singleor double molds. The objectionable bearings are avoided, the main'shaftsbeing attached to the saddle at a single point, which is at their upperends and as far as possible from the sand. None of the parts which touchthe sand pass through a bearing. The finisher acts as an absolute guidefor the packer. It

should be carefully centered in the mold; but 1 a slight variation maybe disregarded, as the packer will be drawn out absolutely straight.

Alittle rotation of the finisher will do no- 1. In a machine for formingpipe-molds, the i combination of a rotating packer provided withprojections for forcing the sand outwardly, a non-rotatingfinisher-guide arranged adjacent to and below the packer, of equal orgreater diameter than the greatest diameter of the packer through saidprojections, and means for sustaining and operating the packer and thefinisherguide.

2. In a machine for forming pipe-molds, the combination of a rotatingpacker provided with spiral projections for packing the sand, anon-rotating finisher-guide of equal or greater diameter than thegreatest diameter of the packer through said projections,supportedadjacent to and below the packer, and means for sustaining and operatingthe packer and finisher-guide.

3. In a machine for forming-pipe-molds, the combination of a rotatingpacker provided with integral spiral projections for forcing the sandoutwardly, and supported immediately below the packer a non-rotatingsmooth cylindrical finisher-guide of greater diameter than the greatestdiameter of the packer through said projections, and means forsusraining and operating the packer and the finisher-guide.

4. In amachine for forming pi pe-m olds, the combination of asupporting-shaft, a rotating packer formed with projections for packingthe sand, secured to the lower end of said shaft, a non -rotatingfinisher-guide of equal or greater diameter than the greatest diameterof the packer through said projections secured by a supplementary sup-,

port to said shaft immediately below said packer, and means forsimultaneously rotating and elevating said shaft.

5. In a machine for forming pipe-molds, the combination of asupporting-standard, a carriage sliding vertically thereon, a shaftconnected at its upper end to said saddle and supported only at thatpoint, a rotating packer formed with projections secured to the lowerend of the shaft, a non-rotating finisherguide supported immediatelybelow the packer, and means for elevating and rotating said shaft. I

6. In a machine for forming pipe-molds, the combination of a rotatingpacker formed with a short, tapering top and an irregular surface, andsupported immediately below the packer a non-rotating finisher-guide ofequal or greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the packerthrough said projections, and means for operating said packer and saidfinisher-guide.

7. In a machine for forming pipe-molds,

mechanism for sustaining and operating the rotating packers, consistingof a frame, and'in combination therewith and supported thereon avertical rear shaft, a parallel front shaft, gears in engagement securedto the upper end of each shaft, means for applying power to the rearshaft; a saddle fitted to slide on the frame; and sustained on saidsaddle the following parts: a main gear fitted to slide on the frontshaft and to rotate therewith, links having the center on which theyswing corresponding with the center of said gear, supplementary gearscarried on the outer ends of said links meshing with said main gear,main 3 shafts, packers and finishers supported on said main shafts, andintermediate connections between said supplementary gears and said mainshafts.

8. In a machine for forming pipe-molds, mechanism for sustaining andoperating the rotating packers, consisting of a standard, and incombination therewith vertical, frontand rear shafts, gears inengagement secured to the upper end of each shaft, means for applyingpower to the rear shaft; a saddle fitted to slide on guides secured tothe standard; and supported on said saddle the following parts; a maingear fitted to slide on said front shaft and to rotate therewith,supplementary gears meshing With said main gear, main shafts, packersand finishers carried thereon, and intermediate connections between saidsupplementary gears and said main shafts.

9. In a machine for forming pipe-molds, mechanism for sustaining andoperating the rotating packers, consisting of a supportingstandard andsustained thereon vertical front and rear shafts, carrying engaginggears; means for applying power to the rear shaft; a saddle fitted toslide on guides carried on said standard and supported on said saddlethe following parts: a rear bracket sustaining a main gear fitted toslide on said front shaft and to rotate therewith, links centered toswing on said bracket, supplementary gears sustained on the outer endsof said links, a detachable support secured to the front of said saddlecarrying the main shafts, and short, intermediate shafts keyed to saidsupplementary gears and to said main shafts for transmitting rotarymotion to said main shafts, and rotating packers sustained on said mainshafts. v

10. In a machine for forming pipe-molds,the combination of a standard orframe; a horizontal shaft journaled thereon, carrying the power-wheel, agear fixed on the shaft and a pinion adapted to slide thereon and torotate therewith; a drum journaled on the frame parallel to said shaft,a gear secured to said drum; means for throwing said pinion into and outof engagement with said drum-gear; a vertical shaft journaled inbearings on the rear of said frame, carrying on its lower end a gearengaging with said cross-shaft gear, and on its upper end another gear;a front shaft journaled in bearings on the front of said standard, and agear on the upper end of said front shaft engaging with said gear on theupper end of the rear shaft; guides supported on said frame; a saddle orcarriage fitted to slide on said guides, a bracket secured to the rearof said saddle, a main gear sustained on said bracket and fitted toslide on said front shaft and to rotate therewith;

links supported and centered on said bracket and adapted to swingthereon; a forwardlyextending shelf integral with said saddle, on whichsaid links rest; supplementary gears sustained on the front ends of saidlinks and engaging with said main gear; a detachable support secured tothe front of said saddle and provided with bearings in which arejournaled main shafts carrying the packers and finishers; short shaftssecured to said supplementary gears and to said main shafts forcommunicating rotary motion to said shafts; ropes, bands, or chainssecured to said saddle, passing upwardly over pulleys and downwardly tosaid drum to which they are secured, and pulleys for sustaining saidchains.

11. In amachine for forming pipe-molds,the combination of a standard orframe; a horizontal shaft journaled thereon, a power-wheel secured .toone end of said shaft, a bevel-gear secured to the middle thereof, and apinion on the other end adapted to slide on said shaft and rotatetherewith; a drum journaled on said frame parallel to said shaft, a gearsecured to said drum; means for throwing said pinion into and out ofengagement with said drum-gear; a rear Vertical shaft journaled inbearings on said frame, a bevel-gear secured to the lower end thereof,engaging with the bevel-gear on the horizontal shaft, a gear secured tothe upper end of the rear shaft; a vertical front shaft journaled inhearings on front of said frame, and a gear on the upper end of saidfront sh aft, en gaging with said gear on the upper end of said rearshaft; parallel, vertical guides secured to the front of the frame; asaddle or carriage fitted to slide up and down on said guides, a bracketsecured to the rear of said saddle, a'main gear sustained on saidbracket and fitted to slide on said front shaft and to rotate therewith;links supported andcenteredon said bracket and adapted to swing thereon;integral with the saddle a forw'ardly-extending shelf on which the linksrest, said shelf being cut out in front to permit the swing of thelinks; supplementary gears sustained on the front ends of the links inengagement with the main gear, a detachable support secured to the frontof the saddle under the shelf and provided with bearings in which arejournaled and sustained main shafts, carrying the packers and finishers;short shafts secured to the supplementary gears and to the main shaftsfor communieating rotary motion to said main shafts; and ropes, bands,or chains attached to the saddle, passing upwardly over pulleys securednear the top of the frame and thence downwardly to the drum to whichthey are attached, and pulleys secured near the top of the frame forsustaining said chains.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twoattesting witnesses, at Utica, in the county of Oneida, in the State ofNew York, this 26th day of February, 1897.

JOHN K. GUNN;

Witnesses:

ALFRED WILKINSON, G. O. SOHOENEOK.

